Mario Andretti surprises Allentown Boys & Girls Club with van
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| Mario Andretti |
Indy 500 legend Mario Andretti drove up in a Lamborghini but quickly shifted to a van Thursday, surprising kids at the Allentown Boys & Girls Club on 13th and Turner streets. Driving the van behind a police escort, Andretti pulled into the parking lot between two children waving checkered flags. He was tempted, he joked, to put the pedal to the metal..
“I was going to do a couple doughnuts here but I think we’ll probably do it later," Andretti said.
Through a transportation grant from Bridgestone, the owner of Firestone stores — with one directly across from this Boys & Girls Club — the club received a seven-passenger 2020 Toyota Sienna to use for field trips and other activities. Andretti, who lives in Bushkill Township, has a long association with Firestone, which is IndyCar’s tire supplier.
State Rep. Mike Schlossberg and Allentown Managing Director Joseph McMahon were among several community leaders who attended the event, and Schlossberg presented Bridgestone with an award to recognize the company’s commitment to community.
As part of Bridgestone’s Driving Great Futures partnership with Boys & Girls Clubs of America, Firestone stores use donations from customers to purchase vehicles for 10 clubs a year and to cover maintenance for another 70 clubs. The Allentown’s Boys & Girls Club was one of the 10 to receive $35,000 to purchase a new passenger van.
“It’s really cool because a lot of kids wouldn’t be able to go to these places without this program," said Barbosa, the spokeswoman for the five Boys & Girls Club branches in Allentown.
Truth be told, the couple dozen kids on hand for the delivery were more excited to see the Lamborghini. Allentown Morning Call